For example, Node4 is a Gold partner and specialist vendor for NetApp. One of the most interesting things about NetApp’s products is that they effectively operate as a ‘black box’. The admin is minimal, and the hardware is ‘bullet proof’ - in the sense that if something goes wrong with the box it can quickly and easily be restored on another bit of identical kit. It just works.
It’s an appealing offering - indeed we offer our own services based on these capabilities, like our Replicated Disaster Recovery. But when I take a step back I am struck with a thought: isn’t this what the future of all IT infrastructure should look like?
Without wishing to diminish the importance of IT for a moment, for most businesses the nuts and bolts of their infrastructure is boring. Managing the hardware can be complicated, tedious and time-consuming as far as businesses are concerned. The real value of IT to businesses today is in the applications and services enabled by the infrastructure.
And I can see their point. If I was an SME would I want my IT staff constantly fire fighting IT niggles? Or would I want them focused on developing applications and services that will really deliver value to the business? It’s a no-brainer isn’t it?
Of course we can talk about the technology until the cows come home, but ultimately what we as a vendor should be delivering is effectively ‘plug-and-play’ functionality for our customers - solutions that ‘just work’.
Steve Denby
Head of Sales South